I just got back from voting in our sweet little town in eastern Tennessee, and let me tell you, it was inspiring! I've never seen so many people turn up at the polls. The small library where we usually vote had to open up every room to accommodate everyone. Go, Bean Station! There’s something so invigorating about seeing a community come together, which makes this message I’m sharing today feel even more important.

This past weekend, I led a gathering with a big group of my coaches from Life Mentoring School, a program where I help women step into more energy, purpose, and joy by learning to rewrite their own stories. I also train women to become coaches, so they can take what they’ve learned and share it with others. Nearly 120 of them joined me for a day in Knoxville, and it was such a rich, healing experience. I wanted to share a little insight from that day with you because it might just resonate in a way that sparks something new in your life.

Let’s be real: as women, especially in midlife, it’s so easy to push down emotions in the name of getting through the day. We juggle responsibilities, care for loved ones, and, often, we’re holding space for the emotions of everyone around us. But when we ignore our own emotions, we’re actually creating a massive weight for ourselves. Unprocessed feelings pile up like too many tabs open on a computer, draining our energy and making it harder to truly enjoy and engage with our lives.

During this weekend, my one-on-one coach led me through an emotional processing exercise in front of the group. I didn’t expect it to be so intense, but within minutes, I was in tears. It reminded me just how important it is to give ourselves permission to feel what’s inside instead of just pushing through. If you’ve ever felt reactive, frustrated, or like there’s no room left in your life for the things you love, it’s very likely that unprocessed emotions are crowding your mental and emotional space.

Here’s what I’ve realized: those emotions don’t disappear. When we ignore them, they pile up until they’re spilling over in ways we don’t like—becoming reactive, short-tempered, or just plain exhausted. I found myself becoming reactive with my son, Tom, who’s a lively, adventurous 12-year-old. My reactivity wasn’t something I liked or wanted, but it was a direct result of all the little feelings I’d been ignoring and pushing down.

If you’re finding yourself short-tempered or “not yourself,” this is likely your body and mind begging you to clear out that emotional clutter. Every ignored emotion weighs us down, while every acknowledged feeling brings strength, clarity, and, yes, even joy.

When we process our emotions instead of pushing them away, it’s like cleaning out a closet that’s been overstuffed for too long. It takes just a few minutes to sit with our feelings and get honest about what we’re carrying, and it’s worth every second. In my session, I felt a massive wave of relief when I could name my feelings and release the shame I’d built up around them. I was reminded of the wisdom that’s already within us—all we have to do is acknowledge it.

Once I had let those emotions out, I felt an incredible shift. Suddenly, I felt capable again, ready to show up for my family, my clients, and myself. Processing emotions gives us back our agency; it frees up energy we didn’t even know we were missing. It’s a regular practice that I’m more committed to than ever.

The beautiful thing about clearing out that emotional clutter is that it creates room for what truly matters: creativity, energy, and love. When we’re weighed down by unacknowledged emotions, there’s simply no space for the things we want to create or the joy we want to feel. But every time we take a moment to sit with ourselves, acknowledge what’s really going on, and process those feelings, we reclaim a little more of our energy and joy.

I want to invite you to try this: give yourself permission to feel. Take a few minutes today to check in with yourself. What emotions have been piling up? Write them down, go for a walk, talk it out, or simply breathe through them. Each emotion you allow yourself to process will bring you closer to living the life you want—one where you show up with tenderness, purpose, and the kind of joy that lights up a room.

Our lives are made richer, not poorer, by each emotion we’re brave enough to process. We become healthier, freer, and stronger when we embrace our feelings instead of ignoring them. So, if you’re ready to clear some space and live a life with more purpose and energy, know that I’m right here cheering you on.

Here’s to making room for all the beauty life has to offer, one acknowledged emotion at a time!

If you like this episode, check out some of our other favorites here: 

Ep 219. How ONE Sentence Changed My Life!

Ep 201: Are You Living the Fullest Expression of Your Gifts?!

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